Time Is Slow - Chapter 18
Upon hearing that Shao Mingyuan led his troops into the city, Doctor Li’s temper flared up instantly.
He blew his beard, widened his eyes, and said, “Retreat? What retreat? Don’t you still have legs? Get off the carriage and walk!”
With that, he nimbly jumped off the carriage. He brushed aside the guard who tried to support him and called out to Qiao Zhao.
“Li girl, hurry up and get down! While we can still squeeze through, let’s enter the city early so you can make it home in time for dinner.”
Qiao Zhao leaned out of the carriage window and saw the crowd packed so tightly that not even a needle could slip through. Without hesitation, she followed suit and got off the carriage.
“Be careful, miss,” Ah Zhu quickly steadied her.
Seeing the situation, the guards had no choice but to abandon the carriage by the roadside and escort Doctor Li and Qiao Zhao into the city.
The streets were packed with people. The tea houses and taverns along the way had long been filled to capacity, and the roadsides were crowded with eager onlookers waiting to welcome the triumphant heroes.
Sharp-witted vendors wove through the gaps in the crowd with their carrying poles, selling out baskets of fresh flowers in an instant.
Qiao Zhao was jostled by the throng, struggling to keep her balance. Just as she caught her breath, a sudden cheer erupted from the crowd.
“They’re here! They’re here!”
“Step back! Step back!” The officers maintaining order brandished their batons, pushing the onlookers to the sides.
The sound of hooves grew nearer, accompanied by the rhythmic, powerful footsteps of soldiers, striking like drumbeats upon the hearts of the people.
For a brief moment, the crowded street fell into a hush, only to be followed by an even more thunderous cheer.
“General Shao! General Shao!”
“Long live the Northern Expedition Army! Well done!”
It was amidst this lively clamor that Qiao Zhao saw that troop.
At the front were the personal guards holding banners, the billowing flags prominently displaying a large and striking “Shao” character. Behind them, a young man sat tall on a magnificent horse.
He appeared to be in his early twenties, clad in a silver-scaled armor reserved for high-ranking generals. The armor fit him perfectly, and the lion-headed belt cinched tightly at his waist accentuated his tall, upright figure. Draped over his shoulders was not the usual crimson cloak but one as pure white as snow.
As he turned his head toward the most fervent section of the crowd, the red plume on his silver helmet swayed with the motion, casting a fleeting blush over his jade-like face.
That single touch of red was the only hint of color on him, yet it made him appear even more aloof and… solitary.
For a split second, the crowd froze, then erupted into a frenzy of excited screams.
“General Shao! General Shao!”
The young general turned away, but the people in that direction remained in a feverish uproar. The women, in particular, eagerly flung flowers toward him. Petals rained down, landing on his armor before sliding off, only to be replaced by an endless shower of flowers, scented sachets, and handkerchiefs.
Everyone in the capital had long heard of General Shao’s feats. Even a three-year-old child knew of his prowess.
But he rarely returned to the capital. Now that they were seeing him in person, they realized—this great general was not only young but also strikingly handsome.
The atmosphere grew even more intense. The people at the back of the crowd began pushing forward desperately. Though Qiao Zhao had her guards shielding her, she was still jostled back and forth. The screams of infatuated women and the endless cascade of flowers and handkerchiefs filled her ears.
She struggled to steady herself, pressing her lips together.
So, her dear husband was quite the heartthrob, after all.
…Wait, no. That was wrong.
Qiao Zhao was dead. The one who survived was the young girl, Li Zhao.
They had nothing to do with each other anymore.
Yet, as she recalled that fateful arrow, though she bore no resentment, the dazzling sight of the man before her still stung her eyes, leaving behind a trace of… unresolved bitterness.
“Ouch!”
A street vendor, making his second trip with a load of flowers, was accidentally knocked over by the crowd. His basket tipped over, spilling flowers all over the ground. Somehow, amidst the scattered blossoms, a stray cactus had found its way in and rolled right to Qiao Zhao’s feet.
Countless fair, delicate hands reached out, snatching up the fallen flowers in an instant, while copper coins clinked as they landed in the vendor’s basket. Moments later, another shower of petals rained down upon the soldiers marching slowly through the street, accompanied by the excited cheers of the women.
Qiao Zhao paused, fished out two copper coins, and tossed them into the basket. Then, using her handkerchief as a buffer, she carefully picked up the misplaced cactus and silently tossed it aside.
Ah, much better.
Shao Mingyuan sat upright on his horse. The fragrance of the flowers thrown at him overwhelmed his senses. He had barely managed to suppress several sneezes when his nose started to go numb. Just as he exhaled in relief, he suddenly sensed something flying toward him from the side.
Years of battlefield experience told him that this was no ordinary flower or scented sachet.
An assassin’s hidden weapon?
Reacting instantly, he reached out and caught the object with precision. The sharp pain in his palm made his brows knit together.
What kind of hidden weapon was covered in spikes?
His gaze lowered, and when he finally got a good look at the so-called “weapon,” he was momentarily stunned.
A cactus?
Shao Mingyuan’s gaze, sharp as lightning, swept toward the direction from which the “hidden weapon” had flown.
Qiao Zhao quickly ducked behind Doctor Li, staying hidden for a long moment before cautiously peeking out. Seeing that Shao Mingyuan had already ridden far away, with only his stern-faced guards marching in formation behind him, she finally let out a small breath of relief.
When she looked up, she met Doctor Li’s knowing, half-smirking gaze.
Remaining perfectly composed, she said, “It’s too crowded. Grandpa Li, let’s hurry along.”
Doctor Li nodded and took a few steps forward before suddenly turning back with a beaming smile.
“Well done!”
Leaving the main road, the side streets were noticeably quieter.
Doctor Li paused, straightening his robes, which had been crumpled from the crowd, and asked, “Li girl, where do you live? I’ll take you home.”
“Sir, that would be absolutely inappropriate!” The guards were horrified.
Their mission to retrieve Doctor Li had been carried out in secret. If word got out that the famed physician had arrived in the capital, it would cause immense trouble.
Doctor Li narrowed his eyes, still smiling, but his expression carried an unmistakable edge of danger.
“What? Even where I go now has to be dictated by your master?”
The guards fell silent, unable to refute him.
Sure, they could forcibly take him back, but the last person in the world you wanted to offend was a physician. If he decided to write a questionable prescription in retaliation, who could they even complain to?
“Sir, perhaps you could return with us first, and we will personally escort this young lady home?”
Doctor Li glanced at the speaker and let out a cold chuckle.
“Did I ask for your opinion? I was simply informing you. Whether your master likes it or not, what does that have to do with me?”
If it weren’t for that rare medicinal herb, he wouldn’t have stepped anywhere near the capital’s mess, let alone the Minister’s residence or even the Emperor himself.
“Li girl, let’s go.” Without sparing the guards another glance, he flicked his sleeve and strode forward.
Qiao Zhao quickly called after him, “Grandpa Li, my home is that way.”
The guards exchanged glances. The leader of the group subtly nodded at one of his men, who immediately understood and fell behind, slipping away to report back to their master.
As the group turned down a narrow alley, a man dressed in black finally emerged from the shadows, Jiang Yuanchao.
“My lord, shall I report this to the Grand Commander?”
Jiang Yuanchao withdrew his gaze and chuckled softly. “Yes.”
Thinking about how that little girl had thrown a cactus at that Shao boy, he felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.